Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Fierce

Fierce , adjective

[Old English fers, fiers, Old French fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage, cruel, French fier proud, from Latin ferus wild, savage, cruel; perh. akin to English bear the animal. Compare Feral, Ferocity.]

1.
Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind.
His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. — Milton
2.
Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious.
A fierce whisper. — Dickens
A fierce tyrant. — Pope
The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. — Milton
Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. — Job. x. 16
3.
Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.